347. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the action being taken by his Department to improve upon current timelines for the processing of join family visa applications. [74990/26]

Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons, as well as for visitors travelling for business or tourism. These are important screening processes designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system, and each visa application is assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.

I am acutely aware that Join Family applications are of significant importance to the individuals and families concerned. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, applications can vary considerably in complexity and in the level of examination required.

My Department continually reviews processing arrangements with a view to improving efficiency and reducing waiting times for applicants. However, it is important that each application receives appropriate consideration on its own merits and in accordance with immigration policy and legislative requirements. The priority remains to ensure that applications are processed as efficiently as possible while maintaining the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring fair, consistent and evidence-based decision-making.

In December 2025, the Immigration Service of my Department introduced online payment functionality to its online visa system. This allows applicants to pay visa fees as part of the online application process. The initiative is being rolled out on a phased basis and is currently live in 40 countries, with South Africa added in January 2026. This reduces the administrative burden on Irish Missions and visa teams and allows visa officers to dedicate more time to core application processing and decision-making, contributing to improved processing efficiency over time.

Furthermore, the ongoing Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) modernisation programme is designed to support a more efficient, transparent and accessible immigration system. The recent establishment of dedicated Application Submission and Join Family Case Processing teams is intended to streamline workflows, reduce duplication and strengthen expertise, thereby improving service delivery for Join Family visa applicants.